Posts are being deleted because they're completely off topic from the OP of this thread. This thread is about the UB/AP scandal, not about petty arguments among our members about off topic stuff.

Members are encouraged to make posts that are relevant to the OP, but all this goofy stuff about belittling someone for calling it a "repost" or w/e is just going to get the post deleted and the poster banned. The same goes for posts like this that just take away from the OP.

Different environment - different outcome- Scenario- Live game- major casino- regulatory commission- Gaming licences at stake.2 million on the table. And lo and behold someone playing is caught cheating.Like i said , this would be addressed rather quickly. Perhaps with an ambulance or worse!

Originally Posted by scooper

The story is informative and recaps much, but there is a huge flaw in it. Online poker in the US is NOT illegal. Players should email the writer at msnbc and ask for a retraction of this statement.

I decided to write a letter of my own:

Dear Mr. Brunker,

As a lifetime poker player and also a free lance writer in the poker industry, could you please clairify what you wrote below. Because it is not true. Online poker is NOT illegal in the U.S. All it would take is 5 seconds of research on google for you to establish that fact. As a professional journalist you should rectify that mistake for your readers. It is the wire transfers that are in question.

From your article - "Though playing poker online is considered illegal by the U.S. and Canadian governments, millions of players in both nations routinely risk their cash on the virtual version of the popular card game, ignoring the fact that many of the Web sites are unregulated or loosely regulated and are based in jurisdictions where a player would likely have no legal recourse in the event of wrongdoing."

You are incorrect.

A statement from the largest poker site online: PokerStars - Safe Port Act Legislation - Dear PokerStars Player -As you are probably aware, the United States Congress recently enacted the Safe Port Act which contains provisions relating to Internet gambling. PokerStars has received extensive expert advice from within and outside the U.S. which concluded that these provisions do not alter the U.S. legal situation with respect to our offering of online poker games. Furthermore it is important to emphasize that the Act does not in any way prohibit you from playing online poker. Therefore, our business continues as before - open to players worldwide including the US. You may play on our site as you did prior to the Act.

More info from 5 secs of google - "But the act did not even do anything to criminalize gambling online by US citizens. Instead it made it a crime for banks or other financial processors to transfer funds to websites offering online gambling. The principal upshot of the passage of the bill is that the publicly traded companies either in the business of offering online gaming or in the business of being a financial processor have gotten out of the business of taking transactions from Americans, while non-public companies legally operating in other jurisdictions have stated (more or less) that US law does not apply to their companies, so their business mostly continues as usual." Link - http://www.poker-2010.com/online/safe-port-act/

I don't understand how such a huge mistake could have been made or overlooked. You talked to some major players in the poker industry, but could not get the facts straight; that players across the U.S. are not playing illegally when they sit at home and have fun and play on their computers.

I consider this a mistake that should be rectified. Millions love the game and love playing in the comfort of their home, especially if they are not close to a casino that offers poker or can find a friendly home game.

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